Referenda on Tuesday’s Ballot Could Mean Big Changes in Fayetteville
posted by Jacqueline Leibman | November 1, 2022 | In NewsEarly voting has begun across the state for the 2022 midterm elections, including here in Fayetteville. Aside from voting for office positions, the Fayetteville ballot will also include four different yes or no referenda votes relating to public safety, infrastructure, housing, and the much-contested charter amendment.
The City of Fayetteville Charter Referendum, otherwise known as “Vote Yes Fayetteville,” has garnered the most attention. If you’ve driven around Fayetteville, you’ve probably seen the “Vote Yes” or “Vote No” signs plastered throughout the city.
The ballot outlines the “change from a nine-member city council where each council member is elected from one of nine separate districts, to a nine-member council where five council members would be elected from five districts (one member elected from each of five separate districts) and four members would be elected at-large.”
The “Vote Yes” side states that the referendum will increase representation on the City Council.
At-large block voting—otherwise known as plurality-at-large voting—is a method that allows committee candidates to run “at large,” city or countywide, instead of by district.
A method banned by Congress for all federal elections, nonprofitvote.org states that former Supreme Court Justice Ginsberg “cited this method along racial gerrymandering, as a preeminent second-generation way to deny equal opportunity for minority voters and candidates.”
Democracync.org claims that this is an “attempt to dilute Black voting power in Fayetteville.” However, it is not an issue solely for race, but for anyone living within the districts of Fayetteville. The referendum allows for the possibility of at-large representatives to overrule your district representative.
For example: representatives from District 1 and District 2 are voting on increasing paid parking downtown. District 1 says yes, and District 2 says no. Well, let’s say the at-large representatives happen to live in District 1—though they’re not tied to District 1 in an official capacity— they all vote yes. The paid parking increase would pass, and your representative’s voice is diminished.
At-large representation is a double-edged sword allowing more representation for some, but not for all. It benefits political agendas, not the voters’ voice.
The “Vote No” Campaign states that the “Vote Yes Fayetteville” committee is made up of “former elected officials from Cumberland County, including a former city councilman, former mayors, and a former State Senator.”
This further supports the idea of the referendum being for political gain and not truly for public benefit.
The $97 million Fayetteville Forward Bond touts to be “For Fayetteville’s Future,” according to their website. Broken down into three separate referenda, it seeks $60 million to support projects in public safety, $25 million public infrastructure, and $12 million for housing opportunity.
According to the sample ballot, the City of Fayetteville Public Safety Improvement Bond will be used “for acquiring, constructing and equipping various law enforcement and firefighting facilities and improvements” for the city.
The bond website further states that the bond “could” be use for projects such as the “construction of new fire stations, the construction of a logistics center, renovation of existing fire stations and a police department call center.”
According to the adopted budget for 2021-2022, the Police operations was granted $55,156,645 while Fire and Emergency Management was granted $32,026,482. The adopted budget included full-time staffing of 605 within Police Operations and 326 within Fire and Emergency Management.
The third vote is for the City of Fayetteville Streets, Sidewalk, and Connectivity Improvement Bond. The website lists “possible projects” “inside and outside the corporate limits of the city” to include 14.5 miles of sidewalks, 60-109 miles of street repaving or preservation, and the plan for four new bike lanes.
The ballot description also includes the stipulation “without limitations” to the acquisition of land and rights of way. This poses issues to private landowners. Based on the NCDOT definition, Right of Way means lands can be acquired through negotiated settlements or condemnation. If negotiation attempts are exhausted, the city could use eminent domain to acquire private land.
Recall in February of this year, a public notice was issued regarding the completion and near completion of some 14,000 linear feet of sidewalk located throughout the city. The bond could be used for further related projects.
The fourth vote is for the City of Fayetteville Housing Bonds. With the least detailed plan, the bond description includes “a housing trust fund, homeownership programs, new housing initiatives and innovative solutions to meet the critical housing needs of the community.”
The Fayetteville Forward Bond would allow for the acquisition of more money to be used for various projects, at the further cost to the taxpayer. The total $97 million bond will result in a property tax rate increase up to 4 cents per $100 value.
Voting officially takes place Tuesday, November 8. You can look up your voter information and voting site though the NC State Board of Elections here.
To learn more about the Fayetteville Bond visit: https://www.fayettevillenc.gov
To learn more about the “Vote Yes Fayetteville” visit: https://www.voteyesfayetteville.com
To learn more about the “Vote No” Campaign visit: https://democracync.org
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